Here are two leaks from Enter The 38th Chamber, a project that features several artists making their own versions of Wu-Tang classics using El Michels Affair’s instrumental covers. C.R.E.A.M. featuresA-Plus of Souls of Mischief and Knobody of the Hieroglyphics crew. The second leak finds Von Pea of Tanya Morgan and Spec Boogie of Lessondary crew putting their own spin on the late Ol’Dirty Bastard’sShimmy Shimmy Ya.

Damn, how time flies. About a year ago Oddisee of Diamond District released Odd Summer, the first in his Odd Seasons series. This series as he puts it “was a way for me[Oddisee] to be creative for no reason other than creativity. That's why they've been free releases.” Enter Odd Spring - sadly the fourth and final installment in this illustrious season-themed series. Despite the unpredictability of the weather, Oddisee’s latest effort, like the sun, will certainly help put a spring in your step upon listening. Be on the lookout for the vinyl box set which contains all four seasons in the coming months.

Here are two tracks courtesy of Donwill which give listeners insight into Tanya Morgan’s rehearsal for So Damn Down for their first live band show at SOB’s recorded by DJ Low Key on his iPhone; hence the distortion. Peep the entire room correct Donwill on his verse, and forthe reprise, listen to the ending that could have made the final cut for their album, Brooklynati. Be on the lookout for The Sandwich Shop (drops May 18th), a mixtape with Von Pea and Donwill on the mic featuring production entirely by The Roots.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Taken from their forthcoming mixtape with DJ Drama, here’s DPZ’s rendition of B.O.B’s Nothing On You. Dedicated to the beautiful mothers of the world (especially you momma, you have being through hell and back and are still standing strong. Rest assured there are noceilings to your success, roger!), this track finds our contemporary revolutionaries flipping this radio hit a la some of the tracks found on their mixtape Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 2: Get Free or Die Tryin'. Look out for Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz dropping June 10th.

Whether Freddie Gibbs out of Gary, Indiana warrants comparisons to Tupac is still up for debate. Nevertheless, I was completely in awe, but more importantly impressed with his single and video for The Ghetto taken from hisforthcoming mixtape, Str8 Killa No Filla. As the title suggests, the track finds Gibbs shedding some light about the ghetto over an instrumental previously blessed by the likes of Milkbone and Big L.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Fresh off lacing Sean P’s protégé, Crown Heights own Rustee Juxx, with his patented style of head-nodding beats, Marco Polo is proud to announce the release of The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo through Duck Down Music. The album is a collection of unreleased tracks, B-sides and remixes that would have otherwise gone unheard. Coming along for this MP orchestrated adventure are the likes of Royce Da 5’9’’. Elzhi, Large Professor, Diamond District and lesser known acts like, Shylow, Red Clay and accordingly MP feels, “This album was an opportunity for me to introduce people that my fans may have never heard of before -- guys like Shylow, Red Clay and Saga,” explains MP. He continues, “I want people to know that when they see my name attached to something, they’re getting quality and consistency. This album is for the hardcore MP fans out there that just wanna have something to rock while I’m working on Port Authority 2. I’m locking myself in the lab on some caveman status for that one.”

After years of playing smaller, insignificant roles, Danny Trejo (you may remember him as Johnny 23 in Con Air) finally gets his big payday in his first lead role in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete. The action-packed film also stars Cheech Marin, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal( I enjoy how the likes of Rodriguez and Tarantino effortlessly resurrect the careers of those who would be otherwise forgotten less they become fixtures on the news) and Lindsay Lohan.

Monday, May 3, 2010

The track The Smelly Cat Song,(Sha probably drew inspiration from Phoebe Buffay [Friends] Smelly Cat) and its video detail occurrences that all too familiar to the male specimen; Sha Stimulioffers a means to help youtell a pretty young lady that her coochie smells – cue this track… hilarity and frankness to the nth degree.